Flush tank valve for commodes



May 11, 1954 A J. RICHARDSON FLUSH 4TANK VALVE FOR COMMODES Filed Marh 10, 1952 Aupeew d E1n/4 eascw INVENTOR.

A TTOKL/E/ Patented May 1l, 1954 FLUSH TANK VALVE FOR COMMODES Andrew J. Richardson, Lubbock, Tex., assigner, by mesne assignments, of one-half to Melvin Earsley, Lubbock, Tex.

Application March 10, 1952, Serial No. 275,743

6 Claims. l

This invention relates to float actuated supply valves for commode tanks, and the like, and it has particular reference to valves of the type which is operated without the conventional arrangement of levers and a fulcrum oat arm, and its principal object resides in the provision of a valve which is controlled by a circular oat for closing the same, aided by a vented hood surrounding the water inlet tube.

Another object of the invention is that of providing a commode tank supply valve embodying an anti-syphoning tube for admitting water to said tank, and affording a counter-weight for the valve stem by the retention of a quantity of the tank water which tends to counter-act the inflow pressure against the vented hood while the tank is being replenished and before the water level reaches the oat by which the valve is closed and is retained closed.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a flush-tank valve which is positive in operation and generally requiring less maintenance attention than conventional type valves for a similar purpose, and affording an arrangement of parts whose simplicity of construction will Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the invention illustrating the anti-syphon tube, the valve, the counter-weight hood and recep tacle, and the oat.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the invention showing the annular oat and float bracket.

Figure 3 is a -plan view of the Water inlet fitting and showing the lower end of the anti-syphon tube in transverse section on lines 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 fragmentarily illustrates, in partial section, the upper end of the overiiow tube and perforated extension therefor, and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the dared extension for the overilow tube shown in Figure 4.

The invention accordingly comprises a supply inlet tting I0 which consists of acircular or oval base member II having an exteriorly threaded boss I2 which is extended through an aperture I3 in the bottom I d of a iiush tank, as shown in broken lines in Figure 1. Another eX-teriorly threaded bos-s I5 is formed on the top of the iitting I0 and a flow passage I6 is formed therethrough and the boss I2.

An annular recess Il is formed in the upper end of the upper boss I5 to receive a seat I8 which has a port I9 concentrically thereof and whose underside is bevelled. The seat I8 is retained by the annular shoulder 2) formed by the conical inner surface 2I of the lowermost end of an inlet tube Z2 which is threaded upon the boss I5 on top of the iitting I0. The tube 22 extends upwardly into the tank to the normal water level 23 therein and has guides 24 and 25 therein, one of which is located in the upper end of the tube 22 while the other is supported in the tube 22 near the bottom by the inwardly bevelled surface 2I. Each of the guides 24 and 25 has a plurality of ports 26 therein and a central aperture 2T.

A valve stern 28 is operatively arranged in the tube 22 and is slidably supported concentrically thereof by the guides 2t and 25, the stem 28 being arranged through the central. apertures 2l. The stem 28 has a reduced portion 2S at its lower end which operates through the port te and gradually increases in diameter downwardly to dene a closure 3D on its lowermost end conformable to the bevelled seat 23 to close the same when the stem 28 is moved upwardly.

The upper end 3| of the stem 28 extends above the tube 22 and is threaded. A tubular hood 32 is supported on the upper end 3| or" the stem 28 in the manner shown in Figure l. The hood 32 has a dome-like closed upper end 33 and an interiorly threaded boss 34 formed therein by which the hood 32 is adjustably and detachably secured to the stem 28 so that the latter depends around and concentrically of the tube 22 dening an annular space 35 exteriorly thereof.

The hood 32 has an external upturned flange 36 formed therewith defining an annular channel or receptacle 3'! which will contain a quantity of water when the tank lls and thus provide a counter-weight to aid in opening the valve, by urging the stem 2B downwardly' when the flush valve is opened, and resist the iniiow of water against the inside of the dome-like top of the hood 32 which has a relatively small vent 33 therein to prevent the water from being syphoned from the tank and permit air to escape from the hood 32.

Surrounding the upper end of the hood 32 is an annular iloat 39 which is attached to a mounting bracket 4l! through which it is secured by a nut 4l to the upper end of the stem 28, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and through which arrangement it can be adjusted to affect the water level 23.

When the commode is flushed by operating the flush valve to deliver the water from the tank the oat 39'A and the hood 32, with its receptacle 37, are lowered to move the stem .28 and the closure 30 away from its seat il 8. Water is thus admitted to the tank through the seat I8 and flows upwardly through the tube 22 .and over the .top thereof and down through the space '35, a certain pressure being applied against ythe dome-like upper end of the hood 62 to aid thelfloatl 3e in closing the valve closure element 3D. The receptacle 3i, however, remains constantly lled and its weight will quickly open the valve to admit water.

In using the invention it is desirable to provide a arecl extension sleeve 42 for the overflow tube 43 which is conventional equipment for all commode tanks. The sleeve 42, shown in detail'in Figure 5, has a plurality of perforations ad so arranged .as to slowly discharge water from the tank through the overiiow tube i3 until the valve is completely' closed and the float 35i has properly adjusted itself.

Manifestly, the structure herein shown and described is capable of certain changes and modications from time to time, bypersons skilled in` the ari-Without departing froin'the vspirit and intent of the invention or the scopeiof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a float valve for commode tanks, in combination, a fitting connected in the bottom of a tank to a supply pipe, an anti-syphon tube threadedly .attached to said ntting and rising in said tank to the normal water-level in said tank,

a ported valve seat arranged in the lower end of said tube and a plurality of Yspaced perforated guides in said tube, a valve stem operating in said guides concentrically of said tube and projecting .hereabove, a elosure element on the lower end of said stem engaging said seat, a cylindrical hood member surrounding said tube and having its upper end adjustably secured to the upper end of said valve stem and having an annular receptacle formed therewith and surrounding the same, a port in the top of said hood, and a cir- --cular float rigidly attached to the upper end of the said hood whereby to raise said stem and said hood to close said valve.

2. In a float actuated valve for commode tanks, l

in combination, a tting in the bottom of a tank connected to a supply line, an anti-syphon tube connected at its lowermost end to said fitting, a ported seat in the bottom of said tube and a plurality of spaced perforated guides in said tube, a valve stem supported insaid guides concentrically of said tube and extending thereabove, a tapered closure on the lower end of said stem engaging said seat to close the port therein, a cylindrical hood, having an annular receptacle formed with and surrounding the same and extending substantially the distance between said ported seat and the top of said tube, and a circular float rigidly attached to the topof said stem for actuating the same to close said valve.

3. In a iioat actuated valve for'comrnode tanks,

in combination with a water inlet iitting in the bottom of a tank having a supply pipe connected thereto, a tubular member connected to said'tting and extending upwardly to the normal water level in said tank, a ported seat in the lower end of the said tubular member, a valve stem operating concentrically of said tubular member and projecting thereabove, a closure on the lower end of said stem engaging and closing said seat when said stem is raised, a cylindrical hood concentrically surrounding said tubular member and .supported by said stern, the said hood having a vent in its upper end, an annular receptacle formediwith and surrounding said hood, and a Vfloat securedto the upper end of said stem for actuating saidclosure to its seat. J

4. Ina ioat actuated valve for commode tanks, in combination with a fitting in the bottom of a tankhavng connection with a` water supply pipe, a now tube connected to said tting and extending .upwardly therein, a ported seat in the bottom Vof said tube, a stem operative concentrically of said tube and extending thereabove, a closure on said stem for said seat, a cylindrical hood supported on said stem and suspended concentrically of said tube and having a vent in its upper closed end,fan annularreceptacle iorming a part of and surrounding said hood, and a circular float attached to the upper end of said stem for actuating the closure to its seat.

5. In a neat actuatedvalve for commode tanks, in combination, a fitting in the bottom of a tank for connecting a supply pipe thereto, a water supply tube connectedto said fitting and rising in said tank, a ported seat in the lower end of said tube, a stem operating concentrically of said tube and having a Closure on its lower end operabie to close said seat, a portion of said stem extending above said tube, a Cylindrical hood supported on the upper end of said stem and suspended concentrically about said tube, an `annular receptacle formed with andsurrounding said hood and extending upwardly to denne yan annular' compartment therearound, and an `annular float supported on the upper end of said stem and surrounding the upper end of said hood.

6. In a floataotuated valve for commode tanks,

in combination, a fitting for a supply pipeconnected in thebottorn of a tank, an inlet tube attached to said iitting and rising in said tank, a ported seat in the lower end of the said tube,

a valve stem operable concentrically of said tube and having a closure on its lower end engageable with said seat and having its upper end projecting abovevsaid tube, a hood member attached to the upper end of said stem and suspended concentrically about said tube, the said hood member having an external upturned flange dening an annular receptacle therearound, andan annular float attached to and surrounding said stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 393,621 Cook et al f Nov. 27,1888 1,143,000 Voigt June 15, 1915 1,241,982 Huferd Oct. 2, 1917 1,477,916 Sikes et al. Deo. 18, 1923 1,589,786 Bradshaw June 22, 1926 2,444,958 Smith July13, 1948 

